Token and receptacle for airway traffic control systems



TOKEN AND REOEPTAOLE FOR AIRWAY TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS May 22, 1945. o. s.A FIELD ETAL Filed June 5, 1943 :s sheets-sheet 1 V m1.. E ov @m .f

Il I l I I I I I I I I l ||||||||l||| OFigld and ONVO Their Gttorneg o. s. FIELD rAl. 2,376,846

5 sheets-sheet 2 May 22, 1945.

- Filed June 5, 1943 E L" Mw Vif/Zw wl- Wirf?,

3 hu. wm. i.. n Nm.. |H|Ww n* il 4. n z n 3 @..Qhmm.

May 22, 1945. o, s. FIELD ETVAL 2,376,846

TOKEN AND RECEPTACLE FOR AIRWAY TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed June 5. 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

:inventors Patented May 22, ,1.945

'roKEN ANDRECEPTACLE` Fort AIRWAY v l TRAFFIC ooNTnor. sYs'rEMs i y v .oscar ariela and Sedgwick N. Wight, Rochester; V l

N. Y., assignors to Company, Rochester. N. Y.

General Railway Signal 'Application June 5,` 1943, Serial No1"f18`9,`775

" isclainis. `(ci. 20o- 42)y This inventionrelates in'general to'A. T. C.

systems, that is; yto airway traic controlsystems; and more particularly to an improved token assembly employable insuch systems.

One of'the objects oftthis invention is to pro-v vide a token assembly which can'control a large number 'of circuits 1in ar selected Amarmer and without danger of error in operation.

A` further objectv of this'invention is to provide a token assembly which is very compact and economical in use of space ldespite the large number of circuitsit controls; Y

Aiiurther object of thisfinvention is to provide a token assembly which is simple and economical in construction and also is very rugged andfdurable Iso'as to assure an unusually longoperative life, I: I 'i A iur herrobject'of this invention is to provide a token assembly in which, in a simple manner, two operative positions'are provided in addition to a non-operated position.`

' portions, a rear portion l5 and These portions fit together, as shown'clearly in Fig. 3 by means of an outer flange I1 on the l secure and effective Further objects,v purposes 'and characteristic" features of this invention.will'appear as the description progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawingsshowing, 4solelyfby way of example'fand in no manner'whatsoever in a limiting sense, two formswhich the"invention can assume. In the drawings: 1

Figi l is a rear elevational view of a token receptacle, in accordance with this invention,`

with-partsremoved 'and with part on line I`-I spring split holding rings complete token kassembly* inr its first" operated" position.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic'sectional view of the` complete token` assembly in its second operated position.

Fig. 12 isa plan view of a modiedform lof' token member. l f

Referring now to the drawings, the token receptacle is elongated and generallyrectangular in cross section throughoutthe major part ofits length and terminates at its two ends in reduced cylindrical portions; It is comprised of two half rear portion' l5 vmatching' with an inner flange I8v on the front portion- I6.

To holdy the two casing portions together in a but simple manner, the end cylindrical portions I9 yandy 20 have formed inwardly of their endsarcuate grooves v2| and 22, respectively* into which are sprung resilient split, respectively, asA at 25' and 26.'` To facilitate removal of these spring rings for .thepurpose of inspection or repair of the device, the cylindrical v front end and 29"and\30 for therear end whereends are provided'with grooveslland 28 for the by a tool can be yreadily inserted under a ring to of Fig. 3,"viewed in the direction of the arrows Y,

and with portions shown in elevation..

Fig. 2:;is affront elevational view of clearly showthe inner construction.

the token i receptacle o Fig. l, with parts removed lto more Fig. '3 is a sectional view with'parts shown in` elevationon theline 3-3 of Fig. l, viewed inthe direction of the arrows. j

Fig..v4 is a sectional View with parts shown in elevation on the line 4--4 of Fig. l, Viewedin the direction of the arrows@ v Fig. 5A is a sectional View with parts shown in elevation ,onA the line 5 5 of 1,f.viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig'. 6 is a sectional view with parts shown in elevation on. the line 6'-6 ofiFigLl, viewed in the direction of the arrows. i l

Fgu'? yis a rear end elevational viewoi` the receptacle ofFig.2. i 1

Fig.. 8 is a front end elevational view ofthe receptacle of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional View of `the complete token assembly'in-vits non-'operated position.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the arrangedl in opposingy beA removed, and the ring can be readily sprung over the enlarged youter cylindrical portion of the casing.

c Within they receptacle member is positlonedua large number of contacts having various functionsto perform. These contacts areyin general, pairsr` and in general are very similar throughout `in their construction and operation.

Referring now: more particularly to Fig.y 6, it can be Seen that the yare alike but oppositely positioned. Theconmember-,is an operating roller tact -T4,.ffor example, is constituted by? a piece of. conducting wire,` preferably `cylindrical in' secr,v

tion, vand having one outwardly bent end 3| yheld between 'the twov casing parts.

formed in a loop 32 which extends outside `of the rear'half vor the casing to then extendforwardly toward the front of the casing and have itsother end 33 bentatsright angles to form a front contact and face` toward,

member 34; "Positioned on the movable contact member T4is formed of springy material and is held in its normal position by bearing against the sides of a receiving socket formed in the two va front portion 23 and 2'4 respectively,

opposed contacts` T4 and T5 The wirer ,isv then -v but be normally spaced v from, fa vcommon contactplate or iixed contact |35.; This contact f parts 'ofthe cas1n`g,as clearlyshown in Fi Ntanceapart, and

' necting members'. The termina .i greumriognl, H2, etc. tofHs.;

fofl 1'01 contacts fare :identified edsfbyzthe reference, character contacts; and when operated byiasuitable'tolenjf as described "below: will junction to identify by 'number any planefnum'bered 'fromxllthrough 999.;A

- controlled-cin .part-thy thesepontacts inai I tive'manner, andrinpart byother instru fence-should beifniadewto 'applicationfSer-.f No

the "reference :characters "ern ence-"character i'H identie tnei digit-cin the hundreds Hi oiitroistiie posting-ef the digiti-inthe mal v operating in thej'c'se" v This'-'is' provided'ffrthe 'purpose loranfoperational g. 6.3 AiThecontactTS is formed inthe same manner. as described just above and carries an operating roller 3B in like manner. These two rollers y3 5 A and 36 are spaced normally a predetermined dis--v 5 tbe mOi/able 'critecirointea and 31 'areftiiilipsitiiied b i'tlpf cpntajet' with their esetive'fixed-contact members-3'4 and 38. *The plates 34and 3 T shape IKL in form with the heads of the T- receivedhw' the front portion of -the casing, as at @jagd while thestems 34 and 38 of; the Ts extend he- ,yond the casing forr servinga ni p ates arer held 1 .in placein thecasing by a lremovable front plate 8 are of a general 4l received in a matching socket in- 'the frontpartw f of the casing and held inplace as by two screws; 4Z and 43. For aid in ready inspection, plate'w4'l" isformed =of transparent materialisuchas `glass 2m lThe*movablecontactsg' and-T5; desc1 j i ij, ist above; aretypical of and 1'der 1tic al with three groups' orfcontacts, each having 10 separate con-TA These f contacts, v'fthirty in nurnber," arej-25 extending-.finwardly-sfromvjihe "front end of thej socket; `one 'eachf-sideoft the socket and afleiden-f tified'iby. thejreference characters; gforgthe first Tnefsecondgroup; t0-

This: :is "accomplished Vvthrough various;v circuits distiric- 4 0 mentale: itiesfjWhicl'i-fc'onstitute'fno part-of-this :particularj disclosuref'For ar'nore^-- detailed description ofthe identi'cationfoplanes andt'the postingoff the plainenmbersron aight'progressboard, referdreds place. Inlike man ner, reference character 'i ,i which when closedfde# closed; position; any' number jfrcmertiirougweee i rqiiers spmei'vnat closer-'together than? `control as will app 'gresses.

in respect to formand' positioningin'fthe casing# vand with respect to the transparentcover-plate 4|, to the common contact p1ates'34tandf38 6de v distance Y In like manner, contacts PI and P2 (Fg.q4)

or plate 65.

i suitabletmanner, "as byf weldin'gforl`V` the t'likeyr'isg plunger -member having a base 68 received*v 'f Referring nowto Fig. 4, therey is here shown a lpair of opposing contacts PI andfPZ Which'carry ope'rating rollers 48 and respectively and are similari ,instill 116er) f 'tacts'typifedfjby a y@ating rollers -thereof being?` eats, to the grigupofthirtyccnt n entf-T5, the operpositionedr the"same Y distance'apartasl arethose of contacts T4l and Y. T5. '[he oi 11y' difference appearing With regard' to thi s jpairgcf contacts PI and P2, is that vthe rear lpartfpf thecasing between the .contacts has instead of a's regards T4 'and T5, 1 j'btih'g'f ngitudinally extending The signicance of this distincf peaf s'tH description progresses. Referiiigtnotv'f'tofFig. 3 of the drawings, therey is he i;e jshotvn 'a pair of opposed contactngers CN Varid'CNZ which are similar to the contacts i fitti-@995,91

heretofore describedibut have their-freefcontacte' Y ingr ends inturned itowardseach other; as14 atf '5l-1I i the Vrolle form andn held Ai'n f 'posit-ion' inthe f'sarne""Wam` as@ described above; withl respect toy p1ates-34if and #38 cooperate wvithf'common- 'T -shap'edfcontact- :plates f 60 "andy 6 l Whichfare heldiincplace inf ythe *casing in the "sa-me inanner'as described*above*incolla--7 nection with the other andsiiriilaiconta-ctrplates.vv 'i g Whilethe functionsof-the various'contactsand-ff system applicationjreferred 'to`| above,-it-! may: bei' desired-," can be convenientiyfconsidered-ascheckf identifying contacts-have' been *properlyoperated:v Thecontacts'fP'l and-MP2,' asv shown lindetail -ir'il Fig. 4 can vbeconvenientlytermed-to beVA posting?- conta-cts* and function; in geneaL-*tot post-iup or;v aid finythe c'ontrol l*of the ldisplay 1' of; the 'number ts and enter into the function'offca'ncelli postingsfaterthey haveservedftheiripurposes l Referringino'w tov Figq9'of the. drawings, there rig is here shown the token sockety'as.y described.-4 l

above. 1 ffThs socket P'is positioned-between* front and -ba'ckp'arts '64 and 6 5 of aireceiving casiri which visstationary. Thee-forward'icylidricai end# 9"y of" the vsocket `rneiriberfp'rojects ttthrcu h an opening in the fronts'part-"or'plateitfliand held 'normally 'ina forvvardlyffcbiaisetzlci'positionv i s by'ahelicalisprirg 61 jbearingat onefend againstif f' the rear end of the socket member'iairid'at it's;fff

other endy againstjthe inner face ofthe .1 "ea'r.part-"l choring and centering means for this spring and a forwardly projecting operating stem B9. This stem 69 is rectangular in cross-sectionand snugly and slidingly fits into alrectangular opening` 1.0 in the rear end of the socket member. On stem 69 are incut portions at either side as at 1I, |2,

etc., so as to reduce the `width of the member various circuits isgemployed to'control various .devices in the system, casefreferredto above.

when in its normal position is the'socket memf ber, as in Fig. 9, so as to permit contact fingers CNI and CN2 to be closed on their contact plates,

and'contact fingers PI Aand P2 to be open orA i' spaced from their contactgplates.

Refer now to the insertable key -or token which is shown in Figs. 9-11. This tokenv comprises an operating stem 16 having a longitudinal groove 11 therein of a size to snugly and slidingly 'ref' ceive the guide boss in the socket member.'

and has a cross-section ofthe form to snugly and slidingly fit the opening 18 in the front end of the socket member. This token has an oper'- ating handle 19 and a stopand identifying tab 80 on which can be placed various plane identi'- cat'ion notations, such as a plane number, for

example, etc.

The width of the token member, as viewed fin Fig. 9, is in general exactl'yequalto the distance.'

between the pairs of operating rollersl of the three groups of ten contacts typied by contacts Thus, to insure that the token be fully inserted before it is eective, the circuits closed by the various number identifying contacts are made ineffective by receiving no energy until after the checlg contacts or Contact, as `CK2 is closed. This check meansis shown clearly `in Fig. 110,

where it is seen that thev two `contact plates 39-y and 40'are electrically interconnected by wires 90, 9|, 92` and 93, and thattheseplates, and the plates 34.and 35, for the groups ofcontacts for the hundreds and the unitsy respectively, can receive no energy unless the check contact.k CK2 sgcloscd.V

The second operativeposition isV shown in Fig.

l1, wherewith the token in fully inserted position, the socket is pushed to move the token and the socket member-as a unit' onto the plunger member, whereby to effect operation of the contacts Aassociated therewith Without in any way changing the operatedpositions'of the contacts controlled by the token.

As shown in this Fig. 11, upon depressing the token socket member until stop strikes plate 54, the posting contacts PI and P2 which are T4 and T5. This width,`however^,is sufiiciently greater than the distance between the two rolll' ers on, and the token operated, `the contact fingers CKI `and CK2 when fully inserted.

Formed on the operating or stem portion 16 of We can now yconsider the operation and func-v tioning of this token assembly as describedabove. which assembly comprises" broadly a receptacle member containing a large number ,ofv various' types cf contacts into which can be inserted any one of a large numberof distinctive tokens for identifying various planes by numbers running from 1 up through 999. Furthermore, when the token is fully inserted, as shown in Fig. 10,` this is readily .determined by the operator by the stop plate 80 which then bears against the front end of the receptacle.

referred to above wherein the check contacts CK! and CK2 are closed, and plane identifying contacts (in this case, three in number) are closed.

Thus, in Fig. 10 is shown the first of the two voperative positions.

normally open are operated to and held in closed positions, while the cancelling contacts CN I and CN2, which'are normally closed, are operated to and held' in open position.

It is clear from thefabove that ya plane' can be identified by 'its number by' closing one contact out of the ten of one or more of three groups of ten contacts. "However, by a different arrangement of external circuits'and controls, the identifyingiof a plane can be obtainedby leaving open only one out o f the ten contacts-of each of one or more of three groups of ten contacts. 'In other words, this 'different control caribe readily obtained by employing a token lsimilar to that shown in Figs. 9-11 but having a wider cross-section in general with cut-out or depressed portions The token. as shown in Figs. 9-11, has the three rises 82, 83 and 84 'and as can be seen from Fig. 10, these rises function to hold closedthree contacts. one in each of the three groupsof ten contacts for identifying, for this particular i token, plane number 326. Also, check contacts CKI and CK2 are operated by the body end of lthe token regardless of the presence or position i of the various rises, andv it should be noted that these check contacts are not operated until the distinctively positioned for the particular token instead of having a smaller cross-section eral with yrises or cam thereon.

In Fig. 12 isshowna token of this modified fornil l which 'has a stem 98l of va width'to close all of v the contacts of the three'5groupsof ten each and has cut-out portions 99, i90, and 'IBI to `permit any contact opposite 'a cut-out portion to 'open again and remain open. vThe end of the token, as at H32, is of a width, asin the caselof VtheV first vdescribed token, to operate' the check contacts'to closed positions only when the token. is fully inserted. With this modiiied'form of token, the `re-4 maining parts of the token assembly, as described albove,`are wholly unchanged. Hence. with thisA token employed instead of the oneof Figs. 9-Y-11, a

slightly different external circuit arrangement is used to obtainthe same results as described above in connection kwith the iirst form'oi token, as more fully disclosed in the' application above re ferred to..

token is fully inserted whereby' to insure that the circuits corresponding'to the particular token have been closed, and henceV no error can arise'.

This plane identification by means of closing It is apparent from the above that the two forms of invention are very similar, and that the` second form, involving the token of Fig. 12, differs from the first form only Ain the vformo'f the token.

l The receptacle and plunger andrec'ei'ving casing are all identical with what is shown inFigs. 9-11. and the difference in operation is merely that one circuit is selected out of a number of circuits for identiiiation; in the 'first form, by *energizing that circuit. and in the'secondform, byenergizing all of the group including the selected circuit except the selected circuit itself.

in gen-k 2,376,846 k v v extending longitudinally of the member; a reand a forwardly extending portion with an inturned `end forming a contact tip, a contact plate in the socket and normally spacedfrom the tip; and a token key-way in the socket and extending longitudinally of the socket and between the spaced forwardly extending portions of the opposed pairs of contacts.

7. In a token assembly; socket member comprising, an elongated rectangularly sectioned casing formed of two separateI half casing members longitudinally joined, a reduced semi-cylindrical end at; each end of each of the members,I a semi-circumferential groove in each end of each member, and a split resilient holding ring sprung into each of the circumfer- 'ential grooves formed when the members are assembled; a plurality of pairs of contacts in the socket member and spaced longitudinally of the socket; each' contact of each pair including a Wire with one end bent and'held between the two casing halves, an open loop in the wire extending rearwardly and outside of the socket member, and a forwardly extending portion with an inturned end forming .a contact tip, a contact plate in the socket and normally spaced from the tip; and a token key-way in the socket and exin combination; a

tending longitudinally of the socket and between the spaced forwardly extending portions of the opposed pairs of contacts; and a roller on each said spaced forwardly extending portions for cooperation with an operating token insertable into the key-way.

8. In a token assembly; in combination; a casing; a key-way in the casing; a key-like token snugly and slidingly receivable in the key-way; a movable contact in the casing and at each side of the key-way; each contact comprising a piece of conducting resilient wire with one end held in a socket in the casing, then extending out of the casing at one side and looped back on itself and into the casing and toward the other side of the casing to form an operating leg, the other end of the wire being bent at an anglev to the operat-v casing at one side and looped back on itself and into the casing and toward the other side of the casing to form an operating leg, the other end of the wire being bent at an angle to the operating leg to form a movable contact point; a contact plate in the casing and spaced from said contact point; a connector on the plate and extending outside of the othery sidel of the casing: a roller loosely carried by the operating leg; and means in the casing for maintaining the roller adjacent the key-way; whereby the token', when inserted, operates to push the opposed rollers apart and bring the contact tips into contact with their plates.

10. In a token assembly; in combination; a receiving housing having spaced front and back plates; a key-like plunger fixed to the back plate and projecting toward the front plate, the front plate being apertured in line with the plunger; a socket member of elongated form and havingv a key-way in each end of the socket member and duced portion on the front of the socket member slidingly receivedin, andA projecting beyond the front plate aperture, with the plunger partly inserted into the key-way in the other end of the socket memberto thereby support the socket members in the housing; resilient meansA biasing the socket member toward the front plate; a keylike token receivable in the key-way in the front end of the socket member; and contacts in the socket member operable by the token, and the plunger, when the token is fully inserted into the socket member and the socket member is fully depressed.

11. In a token assembly; in combination; a receiving housinghaving spaced front and back plates; a key-like plunger xed to the back plate and projecting toward the front plate, the front plate being apertured in line with the plunger; a socket member of elongated form and having a key-way in each end of the socket member and extending longitudinally of the member; a reduced portion on the front of the socket member slidingly received in, and projecting beyond the `front plate aperture with the plunger partly inserted into the key-way injthe other end of the socket member to thereby support the socket members in the housing; resilient means biasing the socket member toward the front plate; a keylike token receivablev in the key-way in the front end of the socket member; and contacts in the socket member operable by the token, and plunger, when the token and plunger, respectively, are

fully inserted into the` socket member; a stop f' collar on the token so located as to butt against the end of the socket member when the token is fully inserted into the member and said socket member is not depressed, and to butt against the front plate, when the plunger is fully inserted into i the socket member due to the socket member having been fully depressed. y

12. Ina unitary token-receptacle push button assembly, the combination with a panel, a4 push other contacts are operated Whensaid receptacle i is depressed either with 0r without a token therein.

13. In a token-receptacle push button assembly, the combination with a support, a push receptacle mounted on and slidable with respect to said support, a spring for holding said receptacle outwardly, said receptacle being provided with a token opening to slidably and snugly receive any one of a plurality of tokens each shaped to have individual characteristics, a plurality of contacts so associated with said support kand receptacle that particular contacts are operated when a partieular token is insertedv and so that other contacts are operated when said receptacle is depressed either by depressing the token when in said receptacle or by depressing said receptacle without a token therein.

OSCAR. S. FIELD. SEDGWICK N. WIGHT; 

